Well the weaning is still going well. I tried a few jars and have now made sweet potatoe, carrot and broccoli puree's which are in ice cude trays in tne freezer. Sweet potatoe went down quite well then rice pudding for pudding was demolished. Charlie has been moaning a bit during feeds and I thought it was because he'd had enough, but I discovered yesterday that it's because I'm not feeling him fast enough. He is much more contented now I am shoveling it in! He still wakes for a feed in the night but I think he is actaully sleeping better between that. ow doing breakfast and dinner May, I will probably start lunch at 6 months. Can't wait til he can take cows milk, formula is so expensive!

Glad you had a nice time at centre parks Lucky, we are going to cornwall in two weeks I can't wait! Yes Charlie has almost finished his first term of baby sensory, he loves it. I have signed uo for the next term which should be good as they have halloween and christmas sessions which should be good.

I also very nearly became a teacher. C in maths should be fine Mandy. Not sure about D in Eng lang and science though. Good luck though if you go for it, maybe one day I may change careers. My job can be so depressing sometimes! With regards to your specialism I would say pick out the subjects you are best at and choose one. I had a graphic design degree so the school I looked into said they were really keen to have me in the art and technology department. I was too young to do the course though, I had to be 24 and I was 22. It wasn't the PGEC course it was a different one. Anyhoo that was ages ago now, somehow ended up in the medical field. Hope Soph is better soon.

x

Luckyducky

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Joined: 23 Oct 2007

Posts: 2286

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:46 pmPost subject:

Hi all, sorry not been on much recently. Been rather busy with the kids, Poppy starting school, rehearsals for my show and my Mummy Duck business.

Mandy - I am a teacher, so if you have any questions about all that let me know. Are you looking at primary or secondary? If secondary then whatever you do your degree in would be your 'specialism', if primary, choose a subject that interests you and you enjoy. When I trained (over 10 years ago, arrgghh) we needed C in english, maths and science, but that may have changed so I'd check if I were you.

Glad weaning is going well for some of you. I have given Theo the odd ice cube of carrot mush which he seems to quite like, but not sure he's completely ready yet so not puching it, just doing it when he seems particularly hungry. he's certainly putting on weight though, a right little hefalump, over the 75th centile. He's really smiley and happy and trying to pull himself up to sitting when in his bouncy chair etc, he loves sitting. But he's not sitting unsupported yet and is a right lazy bones, still not rolling, don't think he can be bothered!

Poppy is enjoying school, already won an award for politeness so I was a very proud mummy! A bit crazy doing school drop off and pick up, plus baby groups etc with Theo. She's full time from next week though so that should take the pressure off a bit as will have the afternoon free too.

I have been trying to get my business up and running, as desperate to make a go of it in order to help avoid going back to work. It started off brilliantly with loads of likes and some orders in the first couple of weeks, but has really slowed down now, so getting a bit disheartened. Think I'd kind of pinned my hopes on it doing really well. Got a craft fair at the end of the month so fingers crossed that might go ok.

Anyway, bed time for the children looms, they have been absorbed in cbeebies for a few minutes! Best go, hope all ok with you and your lo's. xx_________________

MingoMayo

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Joined: 05 Jun 2011

Posts: 2081

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:11 amPost subject:

Hi ladies - going to be quite quick as am reporting from house 'yik' today - both Samuel and I are poorly with horrid colds - bless his cottons - he's so snotty and was off his feeds yesterday though has had milk twice and porridge today so hopefully he has his appetite back now. Just been really grotty, full of mucus which chokes him and then he's sick with phlegm - it's horrid for him poor little mite. Al he seems to want is cuddles and this is through the night too - I ended up sitting with him snuggled sat up on my lap in the dark between 3.30am and 5.15am this morning - every time I moved he'd wake and whimper and I didn't have the heart to try force him to sleep laying down, especially when I was coughing and spluttering and sitting up to blow my nose every 5 minutes whilst laying to sleep too! Seemed cruel to expect him to put up with it when I couldn't!

He's doing well though - was 15lbs7 at the last week weigh in and now enjoying three meals a day... in fact he did only wake once in the night for two nights before his cold started so I am hoping it is the start of him sleeping better too Bobski!

I think Mandy that the C grades still stand... but you may be able to prove through your other qualifications that you are now higher than the grades you got at GCSE so wouldn't have to redo. As Helen said - if primary level choose a subject you like. You end up teaching all of them anyway and it's only when it comes to subject co-ordination that your speciallism matters, or if you wish to be a SENCO etc... and sometimes it doesn't matter anyway - my specialism was science and I still ended up heading art, geography and PSHE (tiny school - many hats!)

Good luck with the craft fair Helen - the designs are so cute - I love seeing the pictures!

Will try get back i the near future but for now little man is begging for a cuddle (read: wants to wipe his nose on my front)

*hugs* xxx_________________

Luckyducky

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Joined: 23 Oct 2007

Posts: 2286

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:31 pmPost subject:

Ah May, poor little man. Theo had a cold the other week and it was horrible, couldn't breathe properly. 2 things to try: olbas oil for children worked well for Theo, especially just before his bottle so he could breathe to suck! Also we tilted his mattress a bit, just a towel under the head end of the mattress, so things 'drained away' rather than getting stuck! Hope he's better soon.

Thanks for saying my pics are cute, am having lots of really positive feedback, just not many sales as yet!_________________

gruffalo

Guru Member

Joined: 18 Nov 2009

Posts: 1139

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:17 pmPost subject:

thanks ladies, primary i think so i will have a think of what to go for. And i think i will look into doin science gcse again, sure the english be fine as done a foundation degree ao must be ok at english language in eyes of academia wouldnt i?

Joshy has also been full of cold. Another thing to look into trying is nasosal, its a saline drops or you can get a spray that you put into their nostrils before a feed to help clear the snot. Seemed to help a bit. Josh seems to be able to breathe easier now but he does sound a bit chesty so keeping an eye on him for the enxt few days bless him! Doing ok though, had weighed today and similar to your little man may, he is 17lbs 6 and just under the 75th so all good.

Josh loving weaning. Was really going blw route but seem to have slipped into the spoon feeding method. He is a hungry boy! So trying to do just one spoon feed a day but offering him the spoon as much as poss to feed himself, and other feeds, offering him 'sticks' of our food. He loves chicken and he enjoyed homemade burger too and asparagus a hit too and loves a half peeld banana to suck on. Seems to like (predictabley) the sweeter flavours like butternut squash,sweet potato. Fruits, he didnt like the organix strabery and apple but loved the blueberry and apple bu the peach one was his fave.

glad schiool is going well lucky. Sophia started in the preschool bit of her nursery today, bless her, she was so frightened but i think she had a good day and they said she did well on the computer, knowing how to use the mouse well so am a bit impressed!

Hope all ladies and bubbas/children doing well/get better soon.

Mandy x_________________

Hungry

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Joined: 16 Aug 2008

Posts: 2735

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:05 pmPost subject:

Hey Ladies! Sorry - I hardly get a chance to come on anymore

Had a quick scan to try and catch-up. Sounds like a few people are having success with weaning Tara was getting restless in the night, and crying when she'd finished her milk feeds, so we had a go at weaning. She loved a bit of my potato and carrot mashed up and Jack's yoguart, but specially prepared baby food is a NO NO!!!! Spent hours getting pures ready.... She's rejected apple, pear, carrot, baby rice on it's own, baby rice with puree, rusk mixed with her milk (she liked the dried bit I let her hold, but I was terrified she'd choke when the soggy bit came away in her mouth). When I say reject, I mean she actually clamps her mouth shut and turn away!!!! Oh, and she loved a bit of mashed up banana and cream.....

I'm still offering her something when we sit down to eat in the evening, but just increasing the amount of milk per feed seems to be helping (although we'll be having to make up 2 bottles if she wants any more!), and we've gone from 4 milks to 4 1/2 - 5 per day.

Sort of sitting up, trying to crawl, but there's nothing she likes better than to be helped 'walk' around everywhere! Can't believe how strong her legs are. Lots of babbling to (yesterday it was 'yeahyeahyeahyeaheah', today 'dadadadadadad'). She seems to be doing everything so much younger than Jack did - scary stuff! Want her to be a baby a bit longer please.

Must be dashing. Trying to do the accounts, then plan to have a decent bath and get some sleep tonight.

ttfn, Hungers x_________________

MingoMayo

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Joined: 05 Jun 2011

Posts: 2081

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:19 pmPost subject:

Hi ladies

Long time, not much activity... I have a few minutes (another hour at least) while my very sad DH watches StarTrek. Damn PickTV.

Hope everyone is well and babies especially!

Samuel is doing great - on three meals a day though still pureed for the most part... slowly introducing finger food and solid things like the baby crisp/corn rings/corn fingers and biscotti by Heinz (which are rapidly decreasing in number because when he has one I have one, they're so yummy!) to encourage him to chew and actually eat food rather than just swallowing puree without chewing or gumming it first. The first time I tried this it scared me silly because I read that very soft fruit would be a good idea so I cut a very ripe nectarine into long fat fingers and gave him the plate to try and he was so good, picked one up, looked at it and then stuffed in his mouth but it was so ripe that half the finger broke off and before I could even get my finger in to scoop it out he swallowed the whole lump and I think really hurt his gullet because he choked and went red and then cried and wouldn't eat the rest of his dinner I was so angry with myself for the whole night, but the following day I went and got some corn rings from Boots for babies and I held it with him until he chewed it and he did, and now he's pretty good at nibbling stuff and chewing it and eating food rather than just swallowing it. He even had cottage pie (slightly blitzed) tonight for tea... and though he didn't eat much of it, he dealt with the fact that it had lumps in really well and was at least trying it. I gave up when he got angry and gave him pear and babyrice puree and a biscuit because I think it is more the flavour of the cottage pie he's not keen on, because I had one before that was completely pureed and he didn't like that even though there were no lumps at all.

He also now has two bottles of expressed milk a day - finally found a brand of a bottle that he will take! The TT Closer to Nature ones. He has boob first thing, then breakfast, a bottle mid morning, lunch, a bottle mid afternoon, and then tea then boob to go to bed at 7pm. He's still up around 1am and 4am though for extra boob! Cheeky beggar! It's so ingrained now that I'm not sure who wakes first, me or him... sometimes I wake up and then a minute later he stirs...

On thursday I mean to take him to be weighed and measured and will ask the nursery nurse what I can do now to reduce these nighttime feeds, as when I asked the HV last time she said give him three meals a day... which he has now and it made no difference. And he eats LOADS too A good baby bowlful at every meal, plus pud at teatime, be it a biscuit or half-bowl of a fruit puree or a yoghurt...

Can't believe he is 6 months already! I was in tears the other day because I realised that he'll start school at 4 1/2 years old, so he's already a ninth of the way towards starting school! Mummy's baby boy!

Mind you - emotional outbursts are to be expected as you can see from my ticker - we got so lucky again and have been blessed with a Pudding in the oven I feel quite different this time, a little tired and emotional but not nearly as bad as with Samuel and no sickness (yet) and no sore boobs or big boobs... but so so dizzy - my head is constantly ringing and I can't bend over or stand up too quick! so I wonder if this means it will be a girl? We're due 7th June, but I think it will actually be a few days later than that - around 14th June, because I OVd late this cycle. Booking in appointment is booked for Halloween, 12 week scan will be around the first week of December, and 20 week scan will be the week my sister is due!

Now all I have to do is work out how to tell work...

I had a call the other day to ask to discuss my return... at the moment I am down to return 24th December, but I am on holiday until 21st January, but I still have 3 weeks holiday to take as well, will probably want to go off on maternity leave around the beginning of May, which means I would use up holiday first, but even then I would be back for just 12 weeks. I'm not sure it is worth it! And I still have the childcare problem... my wage wouldn't cover childcare costs, so I'm better off staying at home with Samuel anyway. But then I would have to leave my job completely so wouldn't have a job to return to after Pudding comes along... but then I'm not entitled to maternity pay anyways so I wouldn't lose out there... oh I don't know!

The other great news is that not only do I get to be a bump buddy with my sister who is about 5 months ahead, but I get to be a bump buddy with my friend who MCed at 12 weeks a couple of months ago... she's expecting again and is due 3 weeks before me! I haven't told her yet - I think I might wait a couple more weeks before I do... just in case...

Then after the booking in appointment we can tell our families (though I told my sister already!) and then 12 week scan can tell our friends!

Anyways... I should go... got so much tidying up to do... Mum is coming for the morning tomorrow as it is my birthday on thursday, but now I have to keep it secret from her... eek - not easy!
xxx_________________

Luckyducky

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Joined: 23 Oct 2007

Posts: 2286

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:42 amPost subject:

Yippee!!!! Congratulations May, so exciting! Can't stop long but couldn't read that exciting news and run without replying.

I do wonder sometimes if some of your babies are the same age as Theo! He still isn't rolling, lazy bum!!! He can wriggle half way across the room if he wants but doesn't roll over yet. I gave up on weaning as he wasn;t really interested so still just on bottles. He is sleeping through 12 hours every night though, and is a really happy content baby so consider myself really lucky with that.

So busy with Mummy Duck Designs at the moment. It's all a bit crazy, trying to fit it in around baby groups and school pick ups. Poppy is still enjoying school and seems to be enjoying learning to read which is lovely. I am really enjoying the business though, even if it is a bit manic at times. Really hoping it will keep on building so I won't need to return to work! Keep your fingers crossed for me! Oh and a huge thank you to those of you who have supported me by sharing things from my fb page or bought things from me.

Anyway best go, sewing to do while Theo sleeps and before baby club!

Congrats again May. and hope everyone else is happy and healthy!_________________

BrookesG

Senior Member

Joined: 26 Sep 2009

Posts: 192

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:07 pmPost subject:

Yay congrats may and happy birthday! I only went back to work for 12 weeks I was lucky with childcare such a short time grandparents did it any chance that could happen???

Lily has been awful since the kids stated with Andrew for the weekend for first time really clingy and teary it's so hard I feel guilty everyday but I started my counselling yesterday hoping it will help me figure things out be in a better place.

I'm also wondering if maybe lily remembers me going into hospital as its since she heard me talking about my operation this has all happened too so tomorrow when I go in for op I'm just saying im off shopping and fx I don't have any reaction to the general anaesthetic! Lily is back to waking at 5 am again but soph is normally 6.30-7. Soph now has two teeth but still really red cheeks so not sure if number 3 is on the way she has only rolled over once and can sit with minimal support but not completely unaided. She is now on food but not really that bothered but am persevering will see how she progresses!

Orange have taken the Internet away from me even though it was supposed to be free broadband for as long as you had an orange contract which I still do apparent loads complaints so I only get little bit free with my phone contract and can't afford broadband on its own! Not happy!!

My return to work date us 6 may had to sort it all with nursery etc can't beleive soph can't get in one of the days til August even though she was on the list from 8 weeks pregnant! Crazy.

Must dash soph awake - congrats again may v exciting my pregnacy with soph was completely different to lily and Borg girls so who knows!!_________________

MingoMayo

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Joined: 05 Jun 2011

Posts: 2081

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:38 pmPost subject:

Thank you ladies

Sorry to hear Lily is struggling with the changes and being with Andrew... It could also be that she understands about the hospital too so is worrying - like you said - probably best to tell her something else so she doesn't fret. ALl the very best for the op hun - really hope it goes well and solves the problem *hugs* Will be thinking of you xxx

Glad that Mummy Duck Designs is going well Helen - the things you make are so cute!
I am having a go at making my own taggie blanket for Samuel but my sewing machine has given up on my and it doesn't matter what I do I can't make it work - will wait for Mum to come see it!

I put a post in the baby section, 6 months to a year or whatever it was called... anyway - HV informed me that Samuel is being very cheeky feeding so often through the night and given us a new bedtime and nighttime regieme... I am not looking forward to it - but I am going to be strong and vigillant because I am SO tired and it's only going to be worse when the pregnancy symptoms properly kick in... I have to get him sleeping more through the night! I said to her 'even if he's only up for one feed a night...' and she shot me down and said 'no, he shouldn't need ANY feeds, he's just being greedy' - which is so true... he's a cheeky little monkey! Anyway - wish me luck... we start that tomorrow night...

Hope everyone else is well, and again, good luck for tomorrow GemB xxx_________________

Luckyducky

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Joined: 23 Oct 2007

Posts: 2286

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 12:28 pmPost subject:

Sorry, super quick one as got loads to do before friends arrive for weekend tonight. Gem - really hope all goes well and Lily settles down, it's bound to be unsettling for her, as she understands so much more than Soph about everything that is happening. Good luck with it all. She sounds at a very simialr stage to Theo in lots of ways! Hoep you recover from the op quickly and all goes to plan.

May - good luck with the new regime. Stay strong! the hv is right, he shouldn't really be needing it. Have you tried a dummy in the night as comfort rather than boob? Hope the new routine works its magic, don't know how you've managed this long with night feeds! It kills me if I have one night with a wake up!

Must dash, 6 beds to make up and a house to clean before I leave to pick Poppy up from school in just over an hour! Been sewing all morning! oops! Be back soon! xx_________________

gruffalo

Guru Member

Joined: 18 Nov 2009

Posts: 1139

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 9:07 pmPost subject:

Mingo, congrats! How is the new regime going? Do you do the patting every time he wakes?

The reason i ask is tha tJ is the same and feeds minimum twice in the night but usually 3 plus times a night. We do put him to bed awake (though easy to slip inot feeding asleep) at bedtime but in the night i am not so good at this. We do similar but do pick up when he cries, put down soon as he stops crying, or if he is so upset he is pulling away, keep going till he is happy to lay in the cot then place hand on his back and if he needs it i pat his back. Maybe i should try your way? Will be watching to see how you get on.

Hi all other ladies too, good to hear from you all

MAndy x_________________

Bobski1980

Senior Member

Joined: 29 Aug 2011

Posts: 311

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 4:00 pmPost subject:

Hi all

Have tried to catch up on the last page or two. May congrats that is fabulous news, how exciting! I am also interested to know this routine the HV suggested. Charlie stirs a lot in the night and still wakes for a night feed, although only one. Sometimes its 2 or 3 am then he will sleep til 7. But if I can drag it out til 5ish he's wide awake by then and I always have to get up with him. I have a book on getting babies to sleep through by 8 weeks which has obviously been rubbish so far, but I am trying one thing suggested and that's watering feeds down (with breats it's cutting the feeding time down) gradually until they no longer need the calories at night. Only started two nights ago so will see how it goes but I was up at 5:30 this morning and Charlie was bouncing off the walls!

Gem good luck I hope all goes ok for you xx

Lucky do you have a website for your business, I would love to take a look at what you have? So jealous Theo is sleeping through!

Charlie is doing really well with weaning, he is having porridge with pureed fruit for breakfast and pureed vegetables and fruit for dinner. I decided to change his feeding times, he was feeding every three hours but was only taking 3 or 4 oz of his feed. I thought maybe he just doesn't need the feeds that often so changed to every four hours. He is taking 5-6oz most of the time now. Trying to keep within the 600-800mls per day that is recommended. I don't think he was taking that much before. I also thought that will fit in nicely with introducing lunch and dropping the lunchtime feed (when I get to that). Going to wait until he is 6 months before I bring lunch in (3 weeks time).

He is trying so hard to crawl and has been practising for weeks but can't go forward yet, he just keeps sliding backwards and is getting very frustrated bless him.

I am due back to work in January and starting to worry already. I really don't want to leave him. I am doing nights so I can have my afternoons with him as I can't bear the thought of not seeing him all day. I have found a nice childminder to start his settling in period in December .

Have my follow up appointment at the breast clinic friday which I am quite pleased about as although this lump is apparently harmless it's growing and it's getting really big now!

Luckyducky

AskBaby Star

Joined: 23 Oct 2007

Posts: 2286

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:27 amPost subject:

Hi all, sounds like a lot of your lo's are being cheeky at night! I am so lucky with Theo. Hoep the new routine has helped May. Theo still isn't on solids! Thinking I ought to really start as the hv said they should have started by 6 months, which is in a week and a half. He doesn't seem to really need the food, but loves sitting up in his highchair lording it over everyone! and I think I really should start getting him used to the different flavours etc...

Bobski, I don't have a website as such, but do have a facebook page: www.facebook.com/mummyduckdesigns which I think you can see even if you're not logged on to facebook. It's going well, but am at that stage where I need to decide whether to really go for it and pile on the advertising etc or just let it bubble along as it is. I want to build it into something making good money if I can so I don't have to return to work, but don't want to use all my maternity leave on it ad miss out on time with Theo!

Otherwise we're doing well, Theo is being good, and Poppy is still enjoying school. Have got her first harvest festival this afternoon which should be cute._________________

MingoMayo

AskBaby Star

Joined: 05 Jun 2011

Posts: 2081

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:12 pmPost subject:

Hello Ladies

Well - I can proudly boast that I went to bed at 11pm last night and woke up at 7am Yey!

Basically our routine is this:
Dinnertime, then play with Daddy while I tidy up (around 10-20minutes) then up for a bath. After bath he is put into his PJs and a dressing gown and taken to my bed (not in it, just sat on it) with the lamp on so the room is softly lit, to have a boob feed (I talk to him through this so he doesn't go to sleep) and then burp, then I brush his teeth with my finger and a bit of toothpaste to show him that boob is finished. I am doing a lot of babysign with him too so I use our 'all gone' sign and reinforce that. Then I sit with him reading books, sharing story and picture books for about 15-20mins (any longer than that and he gets too tired and starts to grumble). Then I take him to his own room, leaving his bedroom light OFF and take his dressing gown off, give him a kiss and a squeezy hug, and put him into his sleepbag in his cot. That is his 'signal' that it is bedtime then, kiss and hug means time for cot and sleep. Then in the dark, I just pat his tummy/chest very gentle with my fingers until he goes to sleep.
Then if he wakes in the night the regieme states to go in as soon as he cries, but don't pick him up or talk to him or even look at him, but just pat as you were before until he goes back to sleep.

The first night he took over an hour to go to sleep, he basically cried himself to sleep (and I cried when I got downstairs because I felt so mean!) but the second night took 20 minutes and the third 4 minutes and tonight took 30secs. He didn't even cry - he whined for about 10 seconds, then rubbed his eyes, shook his head, closed his eyes and went to sleep just like that! I'd barely put my hand in the cot!

The first three nights though he woke at around 4-4.30am and cried and cried until get up time at 6.30am-7am... so you can imagine the toll that took - basically sitting with him crying for 2 hours, then just getting up (but I made sure I got up with him and did normal morning like downstairs for boob feed and breakfast, so that he realised I hadn't given in and fed him upstairs and back to sleep - he HAD to get up instead). But last night I picked him up at 10.45pm just before I went to bed and dreamfed him - which worked - he fed in his sleep, didn't even wake up or open his eyes for it, I just rubbed his back if he stopped drinking and waited until he 'fell off' the boob to know that he was full, and then put him back down, he didn't wake up at all, and the next we heard from him it was 7.05am! So - for him he still needs that dreamfeed otherwise he does get hungry early in the morning but dreamfeed buys us the extra few hours!

Hope that helps others and gives you ideas. The first two nights I was so upset and thought it would never work and even DH had give up already and we had a bit of a row because he came in when I was doing the 'patpats' (as we call them) and said 'he's been crying for too long (it had been about 20 minutes) and it's bad for his health - just pick him up and feed him if that's what he wants' but I didn't, I stayed to the routine and now I am so glad I did - just kicking myself that I didn't ask the HV for help earlier!

I think the idea is that soon I can put him down in his cot and not need to pat him - he'll know that it is bedtime, and will self-settle to sleep completely. He is very close to this already and it's only been 4 nights

It just means I get more sleep - I'm so tired, and though I'm not yet feeling sick or anything (which I'm getting a bit worried about to be honest - I think I'd rather have MORE than less symptoms!) I know that if I do feel sick later on with Pudding - tiredness will make it a thousand times worse!

Helen - there is no rush to get Theo to solids - as it comes of interest to him he'll suddenly leap forward but til then if he's happy he'll be content on milk alone! Samuel is so into his food, he was very ready for it but I know other babies his age in the NCT group that aren't eating any solid food either yet - they're just as happy!
I'm really glad that MummyDuck is going well and hope it means you don't have to go back to work! That would be great! I saw you were so inundated with requests for calendars that you had to stop the ordering for them for a while! That's really great (though tiring I bet! ) Congrats! Your own fault for being so good at it! *wink* LOL!
Hope Poppy's first Harvest Festival went well - that was always my favourite service in the school year - love the songs, the stories and the collecting all the tins for the community too

Hope that your routine works for Charlie Bobski - though if it doesn't I do recommend the one I am doing - it's not easy for the first few hours of crying I won't lie, but it has definitely worked for us - and in three nights Samuel has gone from feeding every 2-3hours to having a bedtime feed and then nothing til breakfast feed. I love that he's trying to crawl! Samuel is so lazy - hates tummy time - so a friend is lending us a tummytime thing with a baby turntable in the centre to try encourage him to do something other than mash his face into the floor! He does occassionally stick him bum in the air and rest on his knees but his face is the tripod and he then cries! I tried placing his arms in a position so that all he has to do is push up and he'd be on all fours but nope... he just lays there!
Glad to hear the lump is harmless but sounds annoying nonetheless - will the clinic do anything about it? I had mine checked but they said that they'll need to see me again in 4 weeks then see if they want to send me for a scan. Fair enough - it's very small and probably nothing.

I'd definitely recommend trying the sleep regieme Mandy - hope it works for you and Josh... Sounds like you are almost doing it already - but for us we just don't even pick up... I think it is to show them that you are THERE (he is never alone in his room while he is awake or crying - we are there to reassure him and he can feel my hand on him) but that bedtime is time in the cot and that is that...

I am also due back in January - but have to have a meeting with my boss to explain that I'm not going back. Really need to talk to DH first as he's of the opinion that I should extend my mat leave to the full year, then take all my holiday due, then go on maternity leave so that I don't actually return to work but keep my job so that I can go back to it after Pudding is born, but that will be Spring/Summer 2014, it seems unfair to ask work to keep a job for me til then, and they are moving premesis in the meanwhile too, and I'm not entitled to any mat pay from the government or from them as my wage is 0 because I'm on mat leave now... so it seems a bit pointless too... but DH thinks I should stay 'employed'. Whereas I think I should just come clean and hand in my notice to coincide with the end of my maternity leave so they can employ someone who is actually going to BE THERE. I'll have to re-explain my reasoning to him, as I don't want to go ahead and quit when I know he said not to, but I don't want to follow his advice! I'm dreading the meeting with my boss either way - I joined them at 17 weeks pregnant and didn't tell them til 23 weeks... I worked for them for just 18 weeks before I went on maternity leave... and now I'll not be going back... because the date I should be returning I'll be... 17 WEEKS pregnant! I met the other receptionist who went on maternity leave about 6 weeks after me at baby clinic the other day - she said that the boss had called her for a meeting and basically bullied her into doing KIT days and worse - when she'd said 'yeh ok I'll do my 10 KIT days' she got a letter two days later with a list of dates for her KIT days that the boss had organised and the first two are THIS MONTH. She was really upset about it - I don't blame her! But I just know that whatever the boss says about 'aww, really glad you are having a good time with your baby and how lovely' - I bet she's going to be very peeved with me when I tell her I'm not going back and why.